Work is underway to integrate the Costa Rican biological corridor known
as
San Juan-La Selva with the Nicaraguan El Castillo to form a binational
corridor
that would consolidate 29 protected areas with a total area of 1.3
million
hectares.

The proposed
Maquenque National Park would cover most of the Costa Rican territory
where
the green macaw (Ara ambigua) reproduces. These lands are between the
San
Carlos River and the Sarapiqui River, both of which flow into the San
Juan
River at the Nicaraguan border. This would include Cureña Forest Reserve, the
Maquenque Wetlands, the Tamborcito
Wetlands, and Cerro El
Jardin,
as well as many other private and protected lands currently being
consolidated.

This area of Costa Rica contains
natural populations of the Almendro tree (Almond), a favored food
source
and nesting tree of the Great Green Macaw (Buffon's Macaw).

This would include the Indio Maiz Reserve and
Guatusos Refuge in
Nicaragua, as well as the areas of Costa Rica which are proposed to be
included
in the Maquenque National Park.

Support and funding for this ambitious effort is being provided by more
than 15 major organizations worldwide.